Panel attachment system

ABSTRACT

A viewing panel device, such as an infant entertainment panel, or a mirror device used inside a motor vehicle for observing an infant in a rear-facing child safety seat secured to the rear seat of the vehicle, or a combination entertainment panel and mirror. The viewing panel device may be employed in a plurality of attachment configurations, for use with a plurality of possible vehicle configurations. In one configuration, the top tether anchorage point included in newer vehicles as part of the LATCH anchorage point system is employed.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No.10/226,566, filed Aug. 23, 2002, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,857,753, which inturn claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No.60/314,723, filed Aug. 24, 2001.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to attachment systems for panels attached to seatsof vehicles, such as but not limited to mirrors used inside a motorvehicle for observing an infant in a rear-facing child safety seatsecured to the rear seat of the vehicle.

Mirror devices used inside a motor vehicle for observing an infant in arear-facing child safety seat secured to the rear seat of the vehicleare disclosed, for example, in the following U.S. patents: Cossey U.S.Pat. No. 4,702,572; Masucci U.S. Pat. No. 4,712,892; Erickson U.S. Pat.No. 4,733,956; Harris U.S. Pat. No. 4,902,118; Gardner U.S. Pat. No.4,909,618; Lumbra et al U.S. Pat. No. 5,103,347; Nolan-Brown U.S. Pat.No. 5,285,321; Rubin U.S. Pat. No. 5,576,898; Sorenson U.S. Pat. No.6,039,455; Brennan et al U.S. Pat. No. 6,120,155; Mercado U.S. Pat. No.6,305,810 and Monahan et al U.S. Pat. No. 6,354,708.

Very briefly, in such devices, a mirror is mounted near the top of therear seat of a motor vehicle in such a way that the driver of thevehicle, by looking in the conventional rear view mirror, can observe inthe mirror mounted near the top of the rear seat an infant in a childsafety seat of the type in which the infant is positioned facing therear of the vehicle. A variety of attachment methods for such mirrordevices have been proposed and employed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one aspect, the invention is embodied in a viewing panel device foruse in a vehicle including a rear vehicle seat with a seat back having atop surface. The viewing panel device includes a depending viewing panelhaving a front viewing surface and a rear surface; a support structureconnected to the upper end of said depending viewing panel such that therear surface of the depending viewing panel faces the seat back. thesupport structure including a portion that can contact the seat back topsurface; and an upwardly extending mirror positionable for viewing aninfant in a rear-facing child safety seat on the vehicle seat. themirror having a front reflective surface and a rear surface, the lowerend of the upwardly extending mirror being attached to the upper end ofthe depending viewing panel.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic illustration of a vehicle including a mirrordevice for observing an infant in a rear-facing child safety seatsecured to the rear seat of the vehicle;

FIG. 2 is a three-dimensional view of a viewing panel device embodyingthe invention in the exemplary form of a mirror device, for use with aplurality of possible vehicle configurations, and correspondinglycapable of being employed in several attachment configurations;

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view depicting the mirror device of FIG. 2employed in a first attachment configuration, referred to herein as a“Tether Attachment” configuration;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged three-dimensional view of a portion of FIG. 3,depicting attachment to the top tether anchorage point of a LATCHanchorage point system;

FIG. 5 is a side elevational view depicting the mirror device of FIG. 2employed in a second attachment configuration, referred to herein as a“Headrest Attachment” configuration;

FIG. 6 is a three-dimensional view, generally from the rear, of themirror device employed in the “Headrest Attachment” configuration ofFIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a side elevational view of the mirror device of FIG. 2employed in a third attachment configuration, referred to herein as a“Tuck Attachment” configuration;

FIG. 8 is a three-dimensional view, generally from the rear, of themirror device employed in the “Tuck Attachment” configuration of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a side elevational view of the mirror device of FIG. 2employed in a fourth attachment configuration, referred to herein as a“Fastener Attachment” configuration;

FIG. 10 is a three-dimensional view, generally from the rear, of themirror device employed in the “Fastener Attachment” configuration ofFIG. 9;

FIG. 11 is a diagrammatic illustration, which generally corresponds toFIG. 1, of a vehicle including an alternative viewing panel deviceembodying the invention, including a depending viewing panel in the formof an entertainment panel, as well as an upwardly extending mirrorpositionable for viewing an infant in a rear-facing child safety seat;

FIG. 12 is a three-dimensional enlarged view, generally from the frontthereof, of the viewing panel device of FIG. 11;

FIG. 13 is a rear view thereof, and generally corresponds to FIG. 2;

FIG. 14 is a side elevational view, generally corresponding to FIG. 3,but of the viewing panel device of FIG. 12 employed in the firstattachment configuration, referred to herein as the “Tether Attachment”configuration;

FIG. 15 is a side elevational view, generally corresponding to FIG. 5,but of the viewing panel device of FIG. 12 employed in the secondattachment configuration, referred to herein as the “HeadrestAttachment” configuration;

FIG. 16 is a side elevational view, generally corresponding to FIG. 7,but of the viewing panel device of FIG. 12 employed in the thirdattachment configuration, referred to herein as the “Tuck Attachment”configuration;

FIG. 17 is a side elevational view, generally corresponding to FIG. 9,but of the viewing panel device of FIG. 12 employed in the fourthattachment configuration, referred to herein as the “FastenerAttachment” configuration;

FIG. 18 is a three-dimensional view showing internal details of thedepending viewing panel device in the form of an entertainment panel ofFIG. 12;

FIG. 19 is a cross-section taken on line 19—19 of FIG. 18, showing theentertainment panel in an “at rest” condition; and

FIG. 20 is a view in the same orientation of FIG. 20, but showing theentertainment panel when the bellows has been kicked by the infant and acharacter has popped up.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring first to FIG. 1, represented is a vehicle 20 in the form of anautomobile 20 including a front vehicle seat 22 and arearwardly-positioned vehicle seat 24. In FIG. 1 the seat 24 is the rearvehicle seat, since there are only front and rear seats and nointermediate seats in the particular vehicle 20 of FIG. 1.

The rear vehicle seat 24 has a seat back 26 with a top surface 28.Behind the seat back 26, and extending up to a rear window (not shown),is a rear shelf 32, which also may be referred to as a rear filler panel32.

On and secured to the rear vehicle seat 24 is a rear-facing child safetyseat 34 secured by a seatbelt assembly 36 in conventional manner. Aninfant 38 is seated in the child safety seat 34.

In the front vehicle seat 24 is a driver 40, who may wish to observe theinfant 38. A conventional rear view mirror 42 is attached to the vehiclefront windshield 44, but this rear view mirror 42 alone is notsufficient for observing the infant 38, since the infant 38 is facingthe rear.

Accordingly, and as noted hereinabove, a variety of mirror devices havebeen proposed, generally in the form of a mirror mounted in some mannernear the top of the rear seat 24 in such a way that the driver 40 canobserve the infant 38 by looking in the rear view mirror 42.

A mirror device of this general type and embodying the invention isdesignated 50. In FIG. 1, the mirror device 50 is shown by way ofexample in one of its several possible attachment configurations, inparticular the “Tether Attachment” configuration described hereinbelowin detail with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4. The mirror device 50 includesa reflective front surface 52 comprising a non-glass (for safetyreasons) mirror 52. As indicated by an optical axis 54, the mirrordevice 50 enables observation of the infant 38 in the rear-facing childsafety seat 34.

FIG. 2 shows the mirror device 50 embodying the invention in isolationand in greater detail. Although the device 50 is shown in FIG. 1 as amirror device positionable for viewing the infant 38 in the rear-facingchild safety seat 34, such is representative of a viewing panel device50 in general, which may or may not include a mirror. For example, aviewing panel device 50 embodying the invention may includeornamentation, fixed, removable, or both, for entertaining the infant38. Or the viewing panel device 50 may comprise an educational activitypanel.

A feature of the viewing panel device 50 is that it embodies a pluralityof attachment methods or configurations and can be used in vehicles ofvarious possible vehicle configurations. Thus described hereinbelow withreference to FIGS. 3 and 4 is the manner in which the device 50 isattached in the “Tether Attachment” configuration advantageouslyemploying the upper tether anchorage point of a LATCH anchorage pointsystem. Described hereinbelow with reference to FIGS. 5 and 6 is themanner in which the device 50 is installed in the “Headrest Attachment”configuration. Described hereinbelow with reference to FIGS. 7 and 8 isthe manner in which the device 50 is installed in the “Tuck Attachment”configuration. Described hereinbelow with reference to FIGS. 9 and 10 isthe manner in which the device 50 is installed in the “FastenerAttachment” configuration.

Referring now particularly to FIG. 2, the viewing panel device 50includes a relatively rigid mirror and backing assembly 60 including thereflective front surface 52, that is, the mirror 52, and a fabric rearsurface 64, surrounding a core of polyurethane foam (not shown). Themirror and backing assembly 60 thus is representative of a viewing panel60, which may or may not include a mirror. The mirror and backingassembly 60 or viewing panel 60 is generally vertical during use,although not exactly so, since the mirror 52 is positioned at anappropriate angle for viewing the infant along the optical axis 54 as isdiagrammed in FIG. 1. A bottom panel 66 is attached to the mirror andbacking assembly 60 generally on the rear surface 64 on a lower portion68 thereof. The bottom panel 66 may also be referred to as a horizontalsupport panel. The bottom panel 66 has a top surface 70 and a bottomsurface 72. Preferably, the bottom surface 72 comprises an anti-skidfabric, such as a rubberized fabric, stitched or otherwise attached tothe remainder of the bottom panel 66. During use, the anti-skid bottomsurface 72 can contact the seat back top surface 28. depending upon theparticular attachment configuration being employed.

The viewing panel device 50 additionally includes a diagonal supportelement 74 that can extend between the viewing panel rear surface 64 atan upper end 76 of the support element 74 and the top surface 70 of thebottom panel 66 at a lower end 78 of the support element 74. The supportelement 74 is employed in the “Tether Attachment” configuration of FIGS.3 and 4, in the “Tuck Attachment” configuration of FIGS. 7 and 8 and inthe “Fastener Attachment” configuration of FIGS. 9 and 10, eachdescribed hereinbelow. The support element 74 is removably attachable toone of the viewing panel 60 rear surface 64 and the bottom panel 66 topsurface 70. The bottom panel 66 and the diagonal support element 74together comprise a support structure 86 connected to the mirror andbacking assembly 60 or viewing panel 60.

In the illustrated embodiment, the diagonal support element 74 moreparticularly has its upper end 76 hingedly attached to the rear surface64 on an upper portion 82 thereof, and is accordingly permanentlyattached on the upper portion 82 of the rear surface 64 of the mirrorand backing assembly 60. The support element 74 extends diagonallyduring use between the upper portion 82 and the top surface 70 of thebottom panel 66. The support element 74 at its lower end 78 has a flap84. Secured to the underside of the flap 84 is a strip 86 of an elementof a hook-and-loop fastener system (e.g. Velcro®), in particular the“hook” element 86. The top surface 70 of the bottom panel 66 is of afabric pile material and serves as the “loop” element of thehook-and-loop fastener system at substantially any point along the topsurface 70. The support element 74 generally comprises fabricsurrounding a core of a soft plastic material such as plastic regrind,and is sufficiently stiff to provide structural integrity.

Also attached or connected to the mirror and backing assembly 60 orviewing panel 60 on the upper portion 78 of the rear surface 64 is afastener element 88 in the form of a D-ring 88. The D-ring 88 isemployed during use of the mirror device 50 or viewing panel device 50in the “Headrest Attachment” configuration of FIGS. 5 and 6, describedhereinbelow.

Attached to and extending rearwardly from the bottom panel 66 of thesupport structure 86 is a tether strap 90. At its free or distal end 92the tether strap 90 terminates in a length-adjustment buckle 94 and afastener 96 in the form of a J-Hook 96. The tether strap 90 and J-Hook96 are employed during use of the mirror device 50 or viewing paneldevice 50 in the “Tether Attachment” configuration of FIGS. 3 and 4 andin the “Headrest Attachment” configuration of FIGS. 5 and 6, eachdescribed hereinbelow.

The bottom panel 66 also has an extending tail 98. At the distal end 100of the extending tail, on the underside thereof, is a strip 102 of anelement 102 of a hook-and-loop fastener system (e.g. Velcro®), such asthe “hook” element 102. The extending tail 98 is employed during use ofthe mirror device 50 or viewing panel device 50 in the “Tuck Attachment”configuration of FIGS. 7 and 8, described hereinbelow. The extendingtail 98 and the “hook” element 102 are employed during use of the mirrordevice 50 or viewing panel device 50 in the “Fastener Attachment”configuration of FIGS. 9 and 10, described hereinbelow.

FIGS. 3 and 4 more particularly illustrate the mirror device 50 or, moregenerally, the viewing panel device 50, in the first attachmentconfiguration referred to herein as the “Tether Attachment”configuration. The attachment configuration of FIGS. 3 and 4 employs atop tether anchorage point 110 included in newer automobiles, asmandated by United States federal regulation, in particular, through theNational Highway Traffic Administration (NHTSA), as part of theso-called LATCH anchorage point system (Lower Anchors and Tethers forCHildren). The LATCH anchorage points are intended for use incombination with forward-facing child safety car seats. When the LATCHanchorage points are employed, the vehicle seat belt system is notrequired for the installation of a forward-facing child safety car seat.Such forward-facing child safety car seats can have a tether at theirupper end, which cooperates with the top tether anchorage point 110.However, in the case of a rear facing infant car seat, the top tetheranchorage point 110 is not generally used in combination with the infantcar seat, and accordingly is available for other uses. In the particularvehicle configuration represented in FIGS. 3 and 4, the top tetheranchorage point 110 is located on the vehicle rear shelf 32 or rearfiller panel 32.

In the “Tether Attachment” configuration of FIGS. 3 and 4, the bottompanel 66 is placed over the top surface 28 of the rear seat 24 of thevehicle 20, and the J-hook 96 is attached to the top tether anchoragepoint 110. In the “Tether Attachment” configuration of FIGS. 3 and 4,the D-ring 88 is not employed, nor is the extending tail 98. The buckle94 and the support structure 80, more particularly the support element74 thereof, are adjusted so that the mirror device 50 is in anappropriate position, and the mirror and-backing assembly 60 is at asuitable angle for viewing the infant 38 along the optional axis 54 asis diagrammed in FIG. 1.

FIGS. 5 and 6 more particularly illustrate the mirror device 50 or, moregenerally, the viewing panel device 50, in the second attachmentconfiguration, referred to herein as the “Headrest Attachment”configuration. In the attachment configuration of FIGS. 5 and 6, themirror device 50 is employed in combination with a rearwardly-positionedvehicle seat 120 which may or, may not be the rearmost seat in thevehicle. The seat 120 includes a seat back 122 having a top surface 124.In addition, the seat 120 has a headrest 126 positioned over the topsurface 124. The “Headrest Attachment” configuration may be employed inan older vehicle that is not equipped with the LATCH system. The bottompanel 66 is positioned over the top surface 124 of the seat back 122,between the top surface 124 and the headrest 126. The tether strap 90 islooped behind the headrest 126, and the J-hook 96 is attached to-theD-ring 88. The effective length of the tether strap 90 is adjusted bymeans of the adjustment buckle 94 so that the mirror and backingassembly 12 is at a proper angle for viewing the infant 38 along theoptical axis 52 as is diagrammed in FIG. 1. In the “Headrest Attachment”configuration of FIGS. 5 and 6, the support element 74 is not employed,and can either lie on top of the headrest 126 as illustrated, or hanggenerally adjacent the rear surface 64 of the mirror and backingassembly 60.

FIGS. 7 and 8 more particularly illustrate the mirror device 50 or, moregenerally, the viewing panel device 50, in the third attachmentconfiguration, referred to herein as the “Tuck Attachment”configuration. The “Tuck Attachment” configuration likewise may beemployed in an older vehicle which is not equipped with the LATCHsystem, and which accordingly does not have a top tether anchorage pointon the rear shelf 32. In this configuration, the extending tail 98 ofthe bottom panel 66 is folded and tucked in between the vehicle seatback 26 and the rear shelf 32, and held by friction, aided by the antiskid fabric on the bottom surface 72 of the bottom panel 66. The supportstructure 80, more particularly the support element 74 thereof, isadjusted, in combination with the particular point at which the fabricof the extending tail 98 is tucked in between the vehicle seat back 26and rear shelf 32, so that the mirror and backing assembly 60 ispositioned at an appropriate angle for viewing the infant 38 along theoptical axis 54 as is diagrammed in FIG. 1. In the “Tuck Attachment”configuration of FIGS. 7 and 8, the D-ring 88 and the tether strap 90with its J-hook are not employed.

FIGS. 9 and 10 more particularly illustrate the mirror device 50 or,more generally, the viewing panel device 50, in the fourth attachmentconfiguration, referred to herein as the “Fastener Attachment”configuration. In the attachment configuration of FIGS. 9 and 10, themirror device 50 is employed in combination with a rearwardly-positionedvehicle seat 130 which may or may not be the rearmost seat in thevehicle. The seat 130 includes a seat back 132 having a top surface 124,as well as an accessible rear surface 136. The “Fastener Attachment”configuration likewise may be employed in an older vehicle that is notequipped with the LATCH system.

In the “Fastener Attachment” configuration of FIGS. 9 and 10, theextending tail 98 is employed, as well as the strip 102 of the “hook”element 102 of a hook-and-loop fastener system. A strip 138 ofadhesively-backed “loop” material is attached to the seat back rearsurface 136 in an appropriate position. The fastener elements 102 and138 together secure the extending tail 98 and thus the bottom panel 66comprising part of the support structure 82 to the seat back 132. In the“Fastener Attachment” configuration of FIGS. 9 and 10, the D-ring 88 andtether strap 90 are not employed. The support structure 80, moreparticularly the support element 74 thereof, is adjusted, so that themirror and backing assembly 60 is positioned at an appropriate angle forviewing the infant 38 along the optical axis 54 as is diagrammed in FIG.1.

Referring now to FIG. 11, which generally corresponds to FIG. 1, againrepresented is the vehicle 20 in the form of an automobile 20 includingthe front vehicle seat 22 and a rearwardly-positioned vehicle seat 24.FIG. 11 differs from FIG. 1, however, in that, rather than the mirrordevice 50, a viewing panel device 250 is shown, by way of example in oneof the same four attachment configurations, in particular the “TetherAttachment” configuration. Referring in addition to FIGS. 12 and 13, theviewing panel device 250 includes a depending viewing panel 256 in theform of an entertainment panel 256. The depending entertainment panel256 has a front viewing surface 257 and a rear surface 258. The viewingpanel device 250 additionally includes upwardly extending mirrorassembly 260, including an upwardly extending mirror 261, positionablefor viewing the infant 38 in the rear-facing child safety seat 34 on thevehicle seat 24. The mirror assembly 260 of FIGS. 11–13 is similar inconstruction to the mirror and backing assembly 60 of FIGS. 1 and 2. Onedifference, however, is that a lower end 262 of the mirror assembly 260,and thus of the mirror 261, is attached to the upper end 263 of thedepending entertainment panel 256.

The mirror assembly 260 includes a fabric rear surface 264. A generallyhorizontal support panel 266 is connected to the upper end 263 of thedepending entertainment panel 256 such that the rear surface 258 of thedepending entertainment panel 256 faces the seat back 26. The horizontalsupport panel 266 corresponds to the bottom panel 66 or horizontalsupport panel 66 in the embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 2, and likewise has atop surface 270 and a bottom surface 272 of anti-skid fabric which cancontact the seat back top surface 28 during use, depending upon theparticular attachment configuration being employed.

A diagonal support element 274 can extend between the mirror rearsurface 264 at an upper end 276 of the support element 274 and the topsurface 270 of the horizontal support panel 266 at a lower end 278 ofthe diagonal support element 274. The support element 274 is employed inthe “Tether Attachment” configuration of FIG. 14, in the “TuckAttachment” configuration of FIG. 16 and in the “Fastener Attachment”configuration of FIG. 17, each described hereinbelow. The supportelement 274 is removably attachable to either the viewing panel 260 rearsurface 264 or the horizontal support panel 266 top surface 270. Thehorizontal support panel 266 comprises a support structure 280 connectedto the depending viewing panel 256.

In the illustrated embodiment, the diagonal support element 274 moreparticularly has its upper end 276 hingedly attached to the rear surface264 on an upper portion 282 thereof, and is accordingly permanentlyattached on the upper portion 282 of the rear surface 264 of the mirrorassembly 260. The support element 274 extends diagonally during usebetween the upper portion 282 and the top surface 270 of the horizontalsupport panel 266. The support element 274 at its lower end 278 has aflap 284. Secured to the underside of the flap 284 is a strip 286 of anelement of a hook-and-loop fastener system (e.g. Velcro®), in particularthe “hook” element 286. The top surface 270 of the horizontal supportpanel 266 is of a fabric pile material and serves as the “loop” elementof the hook-and-loop fastener system at substantially any point alongthe top surface 270. The support element 274 generally comprises fabricsurrounding a core of a soft plastic material such as plastic regrind,and is sufficiently stiff to provide structural integrity.

Also attached or connected to the mirror and backing assembly 260 orviewing panel 260 on the upper portion 278 of the rear surface 264 is afastener element 288 in the form of a D-ring 288. The D-ring 288 isemployed during use of the viewing panel device 250 in the “HeadrestAttachment” configuration of FIG. 15.

Attached to and extending rearwardly from the horizontal support panel266 of the support structure 286 is a tether strap 290. At its free ordistal end 292 the tether strap 290 terminates in a length-adjustmentbuckle 294 and a fastener 296 in the form of a J-Hook 296. The tetherstrap 290 and J-Hook 296 are employed during use of the viewing paneldevice 250 in the “Tether Attachment” configuration of FIG. 14 and inthe “Headrest Attachment” configuration of FIG. 15.

The horizontal support panel 266 also has an extending tail 298. At thedistal end 300 of the extending tail, on the underside thereof, is astrip 302 of an element 302 of a hook-and-loop fastener system (e.g.Velcro®), such as the “hook” element 302. The extending tail 298 isemployed during use of the viewing panel device 50 in the “TuckAttachment” configuration of FIG. 16. The extending tail 298 and the“hook” element 302 are employed during use of the viewing panel device250 in the “Fastener Attachment” configuration of FIG. 17.

FIG. 14 more particularly illustrates the viewing panel device 250 inthe first attachment configuration referred to herein as the “TetherAttachment” configuration, and corresponds to the configuration of FIGS.3 and 4 described hereinabove. The attachment configuration of FIG. 14employs a top tether anchorage point 110 included in newer automobiles,as mandated by United States federal regulation, in particular, throughthe National Highway Traffic Administration (NHTSA), as part of theso-called LATCH anchorage point system (Lower Anchors and Tethers forCHildren). In the particular vehicle configuration represented in FIG.14, the top tether anchorage point 110 is located on the vehicle rearshelf 32 or rear filler panel 32.

In the “Tether Attachment” configuration of FIG. 14, the horizontalsupport panel 266 is placed over the top surface 28 of the rear seat 24of the vehicle 20, and the J-hook 296 is attached to the top tetheranchorage point 110. In the “Tether Attachment” configuration of FIG.14, the D-ring 288 is not employed, nor is the extending tail 298. Thebuckle 294 and the diagonal support element 274 are adjusted so that themirror assembly 260 and thus the mirror 261 is in an appropriateposition and suitable angle for viewing the infant 38 along the optionalaxis 54 as is diagrammed in FIG. 11. The depending entertainment panel256 hangs down from the support structure 280 comprising the horizontalsupport panel 266, with the rear surface 258 of the entertainment panel256 facing the seat back 26.

FIG. 15 more particularly illustrates the viewing panel device 250, inthe second attachment configuration, referred to herein as the “HeadrestAttachment” configuration, and corresponds to the configuration of FIGS.5 and 6 described hereinabove. In the attachment configuration of FIG.15, the viewing panel device 50 is employed in combination with arearwardly-positioned vehicle seat 120 which may or may not be therearmost seat in the vehicle. The seat 120 includes a seat back 122having a top surface 124. In addition, the seat 120 has a headrest 126positioned over the top surface 124. The “Headrest Attachment”configuration may be employed in an older vehicle that is not equippedwith the LATCH system. The horizontal support panel 266 is positionedover the top surface 124 of the seat back 122, between the top surface124 and the headrest 126. The tether strap 290 is looped behind theheadrest 126, and the J-hook 296 is attached to the D-ring 288. Theeffective length of the tether strap 290 is adjusted by means of theadjustment buckle 94 50 that the mirror assembly 260 and thus the mirror261 is at a proper angle for viewing the infant 38 along the opticalaxis 52 as is diagrammed in FIG. 11. The depending entertainment panel256 hangs down from the support structure 280 comprising the horizontalsupport panel 266, with the rear surface 258 of the entertainment panel256 facing the seat back 122. In the “Headrest Attachment” configurationof FIG. 15, the diagonal support element 274 is not employed, and caneither lie on top of the headrest 126 as illustrated, or hang generallyadjacent the rear surface 264 of the mirror assembly 260.

FIG. 16 more particularly illustrates the viewing panel device 250, inthe third attachment configuration, referred to herein as the “TuckAttachment” configuration, and corresponds to the configuration of FIGS.7 and 8 described hereinabove. The “Tuck Attachment” configurationlikewise may be employed in an older vehicle which is not equipped withthe LATCH system, and which accordingly does not have a top tetheranchorage point on the rear shelf 32. In thus configuration, theextending tail 298 of the horizontal support panel 266 is folded andtucked in between the vehicle seat back 26 and the rear shelf 232, andheld by friction, aided by the anti skid fabric on the bottom surface272 of the horizontal support panel 266. The diagonal support element274 is adjusted, in combination with the particular point at which thefabric of the extending tail 98 is tucked in between the vehicle seatback 26 and rear shelf 32, so that the mirror assembly 260 is positionedat an appropriate angle for viewing the infant 38 along the optical axis54 as is diagrammed in FIG. 11. The depending entertainment panel 256hangs down from the support structure 280 comprising the horizontalsupport panel 266, with the rear surface 258 of the entertainment panel256 facing the seat back 26. In the “Tuck Attachment” configuration ofFIGS. 16, the D-ring 288 and the tether strap 290 with its J-hook arenot employed.

FIG. 17 more particularly illustrates the viewing panel device 250, inthe fourth attachment configuration, referred to herein as the “FastenerAttachment” configuration, and corresponds to the configuration of FIGS.9 and 10 described hereinabove. In the attachment configuration of FIG.17, the viewing panel device 250 is employed in combination with arearwardly-positioned vehicle seat 130 which may or may not be therearmost seat in the vehicle. The seat 130 includes a seat back 132having a top surface 124, as well as an accessible rear surface 136. The“Fastener Attachment” configuration likewise may be employed in an oldervehicle that is not equipped with the LATCH system.

In the “Fastener Attachment” configuration of FIG. 17, the extendingtail 298 is employed, as well as the strip 302 of the “hook” element 302of a hook-and-loop fastener system. The strip 138 of adhesively-backed“loop” material is attached to the seat back rear surface 136 in anappropriate position. The fastener elements 302 and 138 together securethe extending tail 298 and thus the horizontal support panel 266comprising part of the support structure 280 to the seat back 132. Thedepending entertainment panel 256 hangs down from the support structure280 comprising the horizontal support panel 266, with the rear surface258 of the entertainment panel 256 facing the seat back 132. In the“Fastener Attachment” configuration of FIG. 17, the D-ring 288 andtether strap 290 are not employed. The diagonal support element 274thereof, is adjusted, so that the mirror assembly 260 is positioned atan appropriate angle for viewing the infant 38 along the optical axis 54as is diagrammed in FIG. 11.

The particular entertainment panel 256 illustrated is representative. Onits front viewing surface 257 is a transparent window 400 through whichpop-up characters 402 and 404 are viewed. The characters 402 and 404 popup when a corresponding one of two bellows 406 and 408 is kicked by theinfant 38. Also attached to the front viewing surface 257 is aprojecting character 410.

FIG. 18 and the cross-sectional views of FIGS. 19 and 20 depict internaldetails of a representative entertainment panel 256. As shown in FIGS.18–20, the entertainment panel 256 and the pair of pop-up characters 402and 404 are mounted to respective pistons (only piston 412 is visible)which move upwardly within respective cylinders (only cylinder 416 isvisible) which are driven by air from respective bellows 406 and 408when kicked by the infant 38. Thus, the cross-sectional view of FIG. 19shows the bellows 406 and the pop-up character 402 in their at-restposition, and the cross-sectional view of FIG. 20 illustrates thebellows 406 and the pop-up character 402 in the activated condition,when the bellows 406 has been kicked. The various components are made ofplastic, and suitable clearances are provided for equalization whenchanges in atmospheric pressure occur.

While specific embodiments of the invention have been illustrated anddescribed herein, it is realized that numerous modifications and changeswill occur to those skilled in the art. It is therefore to be understoodthat the appended claims are intended to cover all such modificationsand changes as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.

1. A viewing panel device for use in a vehicle including a rear vehicleseat with a seat back having a top surface, comprising: a dependingviewing panel having a front viewing surface and a rear surface; asupport structure connected to the upper end of said depending viewingpanel such that said rear surface of said depending viewing panel facesthe seat back, said support structure including a bottom panel having atop surface and a bottom surface that can contact the seat back topsurface, and a diagonal support element that extends between said rearsurface of said upwardly extending mirror at an upper end of saidsupport element and said top surface of said bottom panel at a lower endof said support element; and an upwardly extending mirror positionablefor viewing an infant in a rear-facing child safety seat on the vehicleseat, said mirror having a front reflective surface and a rear surface,the lower end of said upwardly extending mirror being attached to theupper end of said depending viewing panel.
 2. The device of claim 1,wherein said diagonal support element is adjustable.
 3. A viewing paneldevice for use in a vehicle including a rear vehicle seat with a seatback having a top surface and which can be used in vehicles having arear shelf behind the seat back, comprising: a depending viewing panelhaving a front viewing surface and a rear surface; a support structureconnected to the upper end of said depending viewing panel such thatsaid rear surface of said depending viewing panel faces the seat back,said support structure including a bottom panel having a top surface, abottom surface that can contact the seat back top surface and anextending tail which can be tucked in between the vehicle seat back andthe rear shelf for frictional engagement, and a diagonal support elementthat extends between said rear surface of said upwardly extending mirrorat an upper end of said support element and said top surface of saidbottom panel at a lower end of said support element; and an upwardlyextending mirror positionable for viewing an infant in a rear-facingchild safety seat on the vehicle seat, said mirror having a frontreflective surface and a rear surface, the lower end of said upwardlyextending mirror being attached to the upper end of said dependingviewing panel.
 4. The device of claim 3, wherein said diagonal supportelement is adjustable.
 5. A viewing panel device for use in a vehicleincluding a rear vehicle seat with a seat back having a top surface andwhich can be used in vehicles having a relatively rearwardly-positionedvehicle seat with a seat back having a top surface and a rear surface,comprising: a depending viewing panel having a front viewing surface anda rear surface; a support structure connected to the upper end of saiddepending viewing panel such that said rear surface of said dependingviewing panel faces the seat back, said support structure including abottom panel having a top surface, a bottom surface that can contact theseat back top surface and an extending tail which has an element of afastener on the underside thereof for removably fastening to the vehicleseat rear surface, and a diagonal support element that extends betweensaid rear surface of said upwardly extending mirror at an upper end ofsaid support element and said top surface of said bottom panel at alower end of said support element; and an upwardly extending mirrorpositionable for viewing an infant in a rear-facing child safety seat onthe vehicle seat, said mirror having a front reflective surface and arear surface, the lower end of said upwardly extending mirror beingattached to the upper end of said depending viewing panel.
 6. The deviceof claim 5, wherein said diagonal support element is adjustable.
 7. Aviewing panel device for use in a vehicle including a rear vehicle seatwith a seat back having a top surface and which is for use in vehiclesincluding a relatively rearwardly-positioned vehicle seat with a seatback having a top surface, and including a top tether anchorage pointintended for attachment of the top tether of a forward-facing childsafety seat, comprising: a depending viewing panel having a frontviewing surface and a rear surface; a support structure connected to theupper end of said depending viewing panel such that said rear surface ofsaid depending viewing panel faces the seat back, said support structureincluding a bottom panel having a top surface and a bottom surface thatcan contact the seat back top surface; a tether strap extending fromsaid support structure and terminating in a fastener that attaches tothe top tether anchorage point; a diagonal support element that extendsbetween said rear surface of said upwardly extending mirror at an upperend of said support element and said top surface of said bottom panel ata lower end of said support element; and an upwardly extending mirrorpositionable for viewing an infant in a rear-facing child safety seat onthe vehicle seat, said mirror having a front reflective surface and arear surface, the lower end of said upwardly extending mirror beingattached to the upper end of said depending viewing panel.
 8. The deviceof claim 7, wherein said diagonal support element is adjustable.
 9. Aviewing panel device for use in a vehicle including a rear vehicle seatwith a seat back having a top surface, comprising: a depending viewingpanel having a front viewing surface and a rear surface; a supportstructure connected to the upper end of said depending viewing panelsuch that said rear surface of said depending viewing panel faces theseat back, said support structure including a portion that can contactthe seat back top surface, said portion that can contact the seat backtop surface being a bottom panel having a top surface and a bottomsurface; an upwardly extending mirror positionable for viewing an infantin a rear-facing child safety seat on the vehicle seat, said mirrorhaving a front reflective surface and a rear surface, the lower end ofsaid upwardly extending mirror being attached to the upper end of saiddepending viewing panel; an element of a fastener attached to arelatively upper portion of said upwardly extending a mirror; and atether strap extending from said bottom panel and terminating in afastener that can be attached either to the top tether anchorage pointin a vehicle having a top tether anchorage point intended for attachmentof the top tether of a forward-facing child safety seat, or to saidfastener element when said tether strap is looped around the headrest ina vehicle having a headrest positioned over the vehicle seat back;whereby said device has a plurality of attachment configurations for usein different possible vehicle configurations.
 10. A viewing panel devicefor use in a vehicle including a rear vehicle seat with a seat backhaving a top surface, comprising: a depending viewing panel having afront viewing surface and a rear surface; a support structure connectedto the upper end of said depending viewing panel such that said rearsurface of said depending viewing panel faces the seat back, saidsupport structure including a portion that can contact the seat back topsurface, said portion that can contact the seat back top surface being abottom panel having a top surface and a bottom surface; an upwardlyextending mirror positionable for viewing an infant in a rear-facingchild safety seat on the vehicle seat, said mirror having a frontreflective surface and a rear surface, the lower end of said upwardlyextending mirror being attached to the upper end of said dependingviewing panel; a diagonal support element that extends between said rearsurface of said upwardly extending mirror at an upper end of saidsupport element and said top surface of said bottom panel at a lower endof said support element; an element of a fastener attached to arelatively upper portion of said upwardly extending a mirror; and atether strap extending from said bottom panel and terminating in afastener that can be attached either to the top tether anchorage pointin a vehicle having a top tether anchorage point intended for attachmentof the top tether of a forward-facing child safety seat, or to saidfastener element when said tether strap is looped around the headrest ina vehicle having a headrest positioned over the vehicle seat back;whereby said device has a plurality of attachment configurations for usein different possible vehicle configurations.
 11. The device of claim10, wherein said diagonal support element is adjustable.
 12. The deviceof claim 9, which is for use in further possible vehicle configurationsincluding in vehicles in which the vehicle seat back has an accessiblerear surface, and in vehicles wherein the vehicle seat is a rear seatand which have a rear shelf behind the seat back, wherein: said bottompanel has an extending tail; said extending tail has an element of afastener on the underside thereof for removably fastening to the vehicleseat rear surface in vehicles in which the vehicle seat rear surface isaccessible; and said extending tail can be tucked in between the vehicleseat back and the rear shelf for frictional engagement in vehiclesconfigured with a rear shelf behind the seat back.
 13. The device ofclaim 9, which is for use in further possible vehicle configurationsincluding in vehicles in which the vehicle seat back has an accessiblerear surface, and in vehicles wherein the vehicle seat is a rear seatand which have a rear shelf behind the seat back, wherein: said supportstructure comprises a bottom panel having a top surface, a bottomsurface and an extending tail; which further comprises a diagonalsupport element that extends between said rear surface of said upwardlyextending mirror at an upper end of said support element and said topsurface of said bottom panel at a lower end of said support element;wherein said extending tail has an element of a fastener on theunderside thereof for removably fastening to the vehicle seat rearsurface in vehicles in which the vehicle seat rear surface isaccessible; and wherein said extending tail can be tucked in between thevehicle seat back and the rear shelf for frictional engagement invehicles configured with a rear shelf behind the seat back.
 14. Thedevice of claim 13, wherein said diagonal support element is adjustable.